Non-spill drinking vessel

Abstract

A non-spill drinking cup valve system ( 10 ) comprises a lid assembly ( 12 ) and a flexible valve member ( 14 ). The flexible valve member ( 14 ) is removably attachable to the lid assembly ( 12 ). The lid assembly ( 12 ) comprises a spout ( 16 ) having a drinking aperture ( 18 ) therein. The flexible valve member ( 14 ) comprises a protruding member ( 26 ) having a tip ( 52 ) and a drinking valve element ( 28 ) in the tip ( 52 ), which, in use, controls fluid flow into the spout ( 16 ) and out of the drinking aperture ( 18 ). The protruding member ( 26 ) and the spout ( 16 ) are of a complementary shape and, when the lid assembly ( 12 ) and the flexible valve member ( 14 ) are attached together, the protruding member ( 26 ) extends substantially into the spout ( 16 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A non-spill drinking cup valve system comprising:
 a lid assembly and a flexible valve member, wherein the flexible valve member is removably attachable to the lid assembly, 
 the lid assembly comprising a spout having a drinking aperture therein, the spout being generally elongate with a generally rounded or convex tip; 
 the flexible valve member comprising a protruding member having a generally rounded or convex tip and a drinking valve element slit in the form of a valve slit that extends along a length in the generally rounded or convex tip, which, in use, controls fluid flow into the spout and out of the drinking aperture, 
 wherein the protruding member and the spout are of a complementary shape and, when the lid assembly and the flexible valve member are attached together, the protruding member extends substantially into the spout, the profile of the outer surface of the protruding member following the profile of an inner surface of the spout, such that there is a minimum clearance between the outer surface of the protruding member and the inner surface of the spout, this clearance is necessary to allow the valve slit to open in the clearance when suction is applied to the spout, the clearance is kept to a minimum and is substantially only as wide as required for the valve slit to open, to reduce the potential volume of liquid which may become trapped between the flexible valve member and the spout when drinking; 
 wherein the generally rounded or convex tip of the protruding member has an outwardly curved profile in a cross sectional plane passing through the length of the valve slit and the drinking aperture of the spout and the generally rounded or convex tip of the protruding member also has an outwardly curved profile in a cross sectional plane passing perpendicularly through the length of the valve slit and through the drinking aperture of the spout. 
 
     
     
       2. The non-spill drinking cup valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the drinking valve slit opens in a direction of an applied suction when a user applies suction to the spout. 
     
     
       3. The non-spill drinking cup valve system of  claim 2 , wherein the drinking valve slit opens under a suction of less than 50 mbar. 
     
     
       4. The non-spill drinking cup valve system of  claim 3 , wherein the drinking valve slit opens under a suction of 15-40 mbar. 
     
     
       5. The non-spill drinking cup valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the drinking valve slit of the flexible valve member is between 5-10 mm in length. 
     
     
       6. The non-spill drinking cup valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible valve member further comprises one or more compression pads, wherein the one or more compression pads engage an inner wall of the spout such that, when suction is applied to the drinking aperture, the flexible valve member distorts about the one or more compression pads to open the valve slit. 
     
     
       7. The non-spill drinking cup valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the lid assembly comprises a locating boss, the flexible valve member comprises a boss receiving member and, when the lid assembly and the flexible valve member are attached together, the boss receiving member frictionally engages the locating boss. 
     
     
       8. The non-spill drinking cup valve system of  claim 7 , wherein the locating boss has a venting aperture located therein and the boss receiving member comprises a venting valve element which, when the lid assembly and the flexible valve member are attached together, is in fluid communication with the venting aperture. 
     
     
       9. The non-spill drinking cup valve system of  claim 8 , wherein the venting valve element is a venting valve slit. 
     
     
       10. The non-spill drinking cup valve system of  claim 1 , further comprising a valve retaining member. 
     
     
       11. The non-spill drinking cup valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the lid assembly comprises one or more posts and the flexible valve member comprises one or more corresponding holes for receiving the posts thereby to locate the flexible valve member. 
     
     
       12. The non-spill drinking cup valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible valve member further comprises a flexible lip seal, wherein the flexible lip seal engages an inner surface of the lid assembly to form a seal when the flexible valve member is assembled to the lid assembly. 
     
     
       13. The non-spill drinking cup valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible valve member further comprises a rib that forms a seal with the inner surface of the spout. 
     
     
       14. The non-spill drinking cup valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible valve member further comprises an integral removal tab. 
     
     
       15. The non-spill drinking cup valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible valve member comprises silicone or thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
       16. The non-spill drinking cup valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible valve member has a Shore A hardness between 20 and 50. 
     
     
       17. The non-spill drinking cup valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the lid assembly comprise a food-contact approved thermoplastic polyolefin. 
     
     
       18. The non-spill drinking cup valve system of  claim 17 , wherein the food-contact approved thermoplastic polyolefin comprises polypropylene, polyethylene, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       19. A non-spill drinking vessel comprising the drinking cup valve system of  claim 1  and a cup base. 
     
     
       20. The non-spill drinking vessel of  claim 19 , wherein the lid assembly and the cup base are secured by a screw thread. 
     
     
       21. The non-spill drinking vessel of  claim 19 , wherein the lid assembly and the cup base are secured by a push-fit or clip-fit. 
     
     
       22. The non-spill drinking vessel of any of  claim 19 , wherein the cup base comprises a handle.